The SI Applicant Supply File is used mainly to fill temporary federal
positions.  As the HR person at the National Air and Space Museum, I use it
to fill part-time custodial worker positions.  Occasionally I have used it
to fill other positions but usually it is with a name request--which means
we have a temporary federal position and a resume of a person we are
interested in hiring, we send a name request to the applicant supply file
and get a list of all (including the name request) that are qualified.
This only works if there is no one with Veteran's Preferences on the list.
The file may be used more by other offices or bureaus within the SI.  The
bottom line is:  You are probably better off applying for specific
positions.

The important thing to remember when applying for an SI position is to
address each of the selective and quality ranking factors.  The selective
factors are used to determine the qualified candidates.  This first cut is
done by a personnel specialist who is probably not a subject-matter expert.
Therefore it is important to have everything in writing.  If he/she cannot
find information that demonstrates knowledge, skill, or ability in the
selective factor, the application will be placed in the "not qualified"
category.  For instance:  If the selective factors asks for skill in using
Microsoft Office Suite, don't say you have experience using computer
software--say you have used Microsoft Office Suite for XX years.  It is
best to address the factors on a separate sheet of paper, writing a
paragraph or more on each factor.  The quality ranking factors are used to
rank those applications that are deemed qualified.  The ranking is often
done by subject-matter experts.

Applying for a SI position is similar to applying for any federal position.

Pamela Blalock
Human Resources
Smithsonian Institution
P.O. Box 37012
National Air and Space Museum, Room 3352, MRC 310
Washington, DC  20013-7012
202/357-1828
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